Encounter With GodAlright... I am attempting to write a sermon...
I figured it would be cool to see if anyone had any ideas...
I am using Matthew 22 (love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself), and I am going to take those and tie them into the idea of the "Christian experience." I want to explain that Christianity is not merely an intellectual pursuit... Debunking the idea that we aren't expected to "feel" anything at conversion... We think that if we tell ourselves in our heads "I'm saved, I'm saved.." that we ARE! That's like saying "I'm a banana, I'm a banana.." and expecting to be a banana!
We must experience a true re-birth that flows from the real baptismal regeneration that comes from a miracle wrought in our very hearts by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit! We run so fast from "emotionalism" that we forget that the Christian life is an every day experience of grace and power. We cannot love lest we have the power of the Holy Spirit guiding our thoughts and actions. If we feel no different... then we act no different... then we ARE no different. Book knowledge is well and good, but it is useless without daily living that knowledge.
Paul Washer gave an illustration that I thought was awesome...
(My paraphrase)
What if I was late this morning? What if you asked me, "Why?" and I said something like this:
On my way here, I had a flat tire. It was very frustrating! I got out of the car, began to take off the tire, and replace it with the spare... As I was tightening one of the lug nuts, it fell off and rolled to the middle of the highway. I ran out to pick it up, and as I looked up I saw a 10 ton Logging Truck five feet away from me... The Logging Truck ran over me... and that is why I am late this morning.
You would say that I was insane! You don't have an encounter with a 10 ton Logging Truck and come away unchanged!
...You don't have an encounter with the God of all Creation and come away unchanged!!
I don't know... That is what I have right now.... any ideas??
10 comments:
i am an armenian, i am an armenian.
...
it didnt work, you were right
How true:
Whoever has been changed will...
Be changed.
How profound.
How true though...no one would expect a clown to act like a preacher...hopefully the opposite is true as well; similarly, if we were to observe someone manifesting the traits of a lost man or woman, it stands to reason that they would be identified as lost.
The question that you have left me with is this one:
"What is it that I can do, or how can I act/live, so that all those who observe me will KNOW, that I believe in the Way of Jesus Christ?"
g
oops
good thoughts
Absolutely!!!! It is about a REAL spiritual transformation that changes ther very nature of who you are.
I don't mean that we wont struggle with sin... But will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, overcome sin!
Will we be perfect?? Here? No. But, we will one day stand befor god, fully sanctified by the power of His blood.
Through progressive sanctification, the Christian should gradually overcome sins in his life!
Growth is the only evidence of life. ~John Henry Newman
I GUESS I FORGET THAT SOMETIMES.
"We cannot love lest we have the power of the Holy Spirit guiding our thoughts and actions. If we feel no different... then we act no different... then we ARE no different. Book knowledge is well and good, but it is useless without daily living that knowledge."
so what should i say to those who are not exhibiting christian behaviors but say that they are saved?
Ahhh...how refreshing...how true!
Pray for him, everyone, he is preaching this sermon this coming Sunday (July 1).
He did a FANTASTIC job...thank you for your prayers! I believe God was truly glorified!
Post a Comment